Nic Hoult Is Nikola Tesla In “Current War”

Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men”) is in talks to join Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon in the electricity drama “The Current War” at The Weinstein Company. Hoult would play inventor Nikola Tesla opposite Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison and Shannon as George Westinghouse.

Set in the late 1880s, the story follows the battle between Edison and Westinghouse to supply electricity with Edison backing direct current and Westinghouse pushing alternating current.

Tesla came to the United States in 1884 and briefly worked with Edison before the two parted ways. He sold several patent rights to George Westinghouse.

Michael Mitnick wrote the script and Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) will direct. Filming aims to begin early December.